9 July 1940 Contrary to the previous days, some pilots patrol Kenley at night and at dawn. This is the case of Flight Lieutenant James G. Sanders, which takes off twice: first individually between 01h35 and 02h45, then with Pilot Officer Keith T. Lofts and Pilot Officer David Evans (04h15 – 05h30). They are followed…
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22 November 1940 Southern Front At dawn (05h36), three Caproni Ca.133 bombed the airfield of Bura (Kenya) without causing damage. Three Hawker Hurricane of No.3 (SAAF) Squadron (Lieutenant Colin A. Allan ; Second Lieutenant F.R. Glover and Robert H.C. Kershaw with No. 292) take off immediately to catch them. The leader was quickly shot down,…
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8 July 1940 Following his injury in France (15 May 1940), Pilot Officer David J. Looker is discharged from Shenley Military Hospital and allowed to join the squadron. He is not, however, allowed to resume flying. Once again, pilots are tasked to patrol over a shipping convoy (off Beachy Head) between 15h35 and 19h10. Pilots…
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21 November 1940 Northern Front Two Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 are reported over Port Sudan in the afternoon. Two Gloster Gladiator of K Flight took off around 13h40 : Flying Officer Percy O.V. Green (K7974) and Pilot Officer Geoffrey B. Smither. They meet the Italian bombers at an altitude of about 4 800 meters. A fight ensued…
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6 July 1940 A new pilot joins No.615 (County of Surrey) Squadron, Pilot Officer Douglas H. Hone. Douglas Harold Hone (80816) was born on 30 September 1917, at Purley. After studies at Jesmond College and the Wallington County Grammar School, he worked as a bank clerk when he joined the RAFVR in September 1938 where…
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20 November 1940 Northern Front As the day before Bristol Blenheim, based in Aden, continue to multiply attacks against Assab. This time, No.39 (RAF) Squadron led the way with three Bristol Blenheimers between 23h30 and 02h30. They were followed by two other of No.8 (RAF) Squadron aircraft between 02h20 and 05h00. Finally, the No.11 (RAF)…
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19 November 1940 Northern Front After a short operational break, the three bombing squadrons of Aden are responsible for carrying out a series of intensive attacks on Assab during 19 and 20 November. No.8 and No.11 (RAF) Squadron start when three planes, of each unit, take off between 21h45 and 23h45 the day before to…
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5 July 1940 Two patrols take place during the day. The first begins at 12h25 with Flying Officer Herbert S. Giddings (P2801), Flying Officer Anthony Eyre (P3487) and Sergeant Derrick W. Halton (L2003). However, it is of short duration as everyone lands at 12h40. The second one takes place later. Squadron Leader Joseph R. Kayll…
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18 November 1940 Northern Front Flying Officer Stephen P. Bartlett left No.94 (RAF) Squadron on 18 November[1] to join No.112 (RAF) Squadron in Egypt where he probably served until January 1941[2]. If the later part of his career is not known at the time of writing, he ended the war with the temporary rank of…
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4 July 1940 A letter from Pilot Officer Cecil R. Young to his parents (dated 4 July 1940) partly restores the atmosphere: « Well, I expect you all know about the situation at home nowdays. A the moment we’re working terrible hard, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week more or less. The chief…
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